Yongle for six years.

Shanghai.

Dock.

The huge lever steel arm, like the ornament of a steam engine for pumping water, transports boxes of goods onto the steam engine ship through a set of pulleys and relying on the power of the steam engine.

The staff of the pier accompanied Li Xian on patrol.

Li Xian was about to send an envoy to the Zhongshan Kingdom to solve the problems left by the Zhongshan Kingdom, and the local officials personally accompanied him, and while waiting for the ship, he learned about the daily situation at the dock.

"The braking component of the crane, using the ratchet principle."

"Ratchet is a mechanical part invented by our ancestors very early, and the written records found so far are as early as the Han Dynasty, and there are records of gear parts in the same period, and a large number of gears were used in the timer machines of the Song Dynasty."

A staff member points to the ratchet under the base of the crane.

On the outer edge of the toroidal iron part, the rigid toothed surface leaves an inward-facing gear, which is hooked onto the gear to hold the entire machine in place.

"If you turn it backwards, because the gears are facing, they don't hook the pawl hook and don't prevent the machine from running, and when the machine stops, these gears can hook the pawl hook."

The staff said fluently.

It seems that he has introduced many times, so he speaks concisely and skillfully.

"It's amazing."

Li Xian's face was full of sighs.

"This small machine part contains great wisdom, but even we can hardly imagine that it was invented by the ancients more than 1,000 years ago and played a huge role in industrialized society."

The officials at the dock laughed.

"Countless of these small parts, organized into a complete cycle of machines, play a key role in the development of all walks of life."

"With the prosperity of the market, the exchange of goods has increased year by year, which has promoted the change of ships, and the merchant ships on the sea, the ships have become more and more huge, which has promoted the lushness of steam engine steamers."

The wharf in Shanghai County, since its completion, has been the fastest in the country.

It can be said that every year is a new change.

As an official who has witnessed the development of Shanghai wharf, he knows the situation over the years, and between his words, it seems that the social changes over the years have unfolded in front of people's eyes.

The official added: "Steam engine ships carry a lot of goods, so there are more and more cranes on the wharf, and the traditional way of packing goods has also changed, so special cargo boxes are also provided on the wharf." ”

Pointing to the square containers piled up on the dock, Li Xian also looked over.

These containers are about to be loaded onto ships.

There are also many warehouses that are still stacked with goods sent by various trading houses and goods sent by ships, waiting for the merchants to transport them away.

On a cargo ship carrying Liaodong timber, countless pieces of timber were transported.

In response to Tianfu's demand for wood, it has reached an astronomical amount.

In addition to the production of wooden ladder handrail carving, etc., there is also the demand for furniture, and even the development of other industries, Liaodong sends countless timbers to Shanghai every year, which is just one of them.

Li Xian is more interested in machines.

In terms of theoretical knowledge, in addition to Beiping, the capital will hold training sessions every year, not only for non-governmental organizations to carry out similar activities, but also for officials to provide training for a large number of officials.

Looked at.

The staff stepped forward and said with a smile: "The museum established in the capital has collected ratchet parts in the Spring and Autumn Period, but the parts unearthed in that period are mainly bronze materials. ”

"The machinery factory in Beiping has a branch factory specializing in the production of ratchet parts, which is cast from steel, and uses machines, not ancient handmade, which is better in terms of efficiency and appearance."

Li Xian nodded repeatedly.

A crane is just a crane with many parts.

Whether it is pulleys, gears, brake appliances or transmission parts, they are all things that the ancestors have, and they can be said to be the masters of Chinese civilization.

At least 30% of the factories behind these components come from Beiping, which is the earliest industrial base of the Ming Dynasty, as well as the coal supply area, as well as the earliest reform place, and it is difficult for even the capital to catch up.

"The ancestors have developed brilliant achievements of civilization, but at the beginning of our dynasty, whether it is the technology between the market or the knowledge of the people, like ignorant people, what does it mean?"

Li Xian spoke in public.

The Ming Dynasty strengthened the management of overseas, and officials like Li Xian became more and more important, and even Yang Zhong became a hero in the textbooks and left his name in history, so everyone listened carefully.

"Since ancient times, the essence is in the north, whether it is cultural or technical, the Song Dynasty lost Kaifeng, shrank in the south, the essence of the world lost half, and even after the death of the Song Dynasty, it was less than a hundred years, and the essence of the world has not existed."

"It's a waste to be rebuilt."

Li Xian sighed: "Just like this ratchet, if it weren't for the prosperity of our dynasty, the promotion of industrialization, and the unearthed ancient artifacts, I am afraid that no one in our Ming Dynasty would know this thing, let alone know the importance of this thing." ”

"This shows that society is not eternal, just like a boat sailing against the current, it will retreat if it does not advance, and it is full of risks of degradation, and even degeneration into ignorance."

"It's not impossible, if it weren't for my Ming Dynasty, the degradation rate of the previous dynasty would not be restored, wouldn't it be degraded to ignorance and become an uncivilized native."

"Therefore, although your achievements are great, you must not be complacent and complacent, as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said, development is always the same direction."

Outside the dock.

The steamer whistled into the port.

The steam locomotive on the internal railroad tracks, consignment of a column of goods, the east is the entrance, the west is the exit, the intersection of the north and south of the Ming Dynasty, the port with the most frequent material exchanges.

The merchant ship to the Ryukyus was ready, and Lee Siam boarded the merchant ship under the farewell of the dock staff, and the merchant personally accompanied Lee Siam to the Ryukyu area.

Li Xian was the first to go to the Western Regions, and later to the Golden Horde, that is, the land of Kipchak, and now he is going overseas, and he is the farthest traveled officials of the Ming Dynasty.

The well-informed Li Xian was very kind to the businessmen who accompanied him.

The two sides also played a few games of chess.

Through the conversation with the businessman, Li Xian deepened the ideas and needs of some overseas businessmen, and the relationship between the two sides was also improved, and the businessman also received a promise from Li Xian that the businessman could visit him when he had time.

The Ming coastal ships were densely populated.

Raw materials became the largest cargo, and in cold climates, there were even ships that transported ice to the south, providing cheap ice for ice cellars and freezers all over the south.

Naval ships were scattered along the coast of Daming to maintain the tranquility of the coastline.

With the strengthening of the Ming Dynasty's control over Goryeo, Wa, Ryukyu and other countries, the soil for the rise of piracy was effectively eliminated, and the scale of the 100,000 navy, of which as many as 50,000 was used on the coast.

Petrels chase boats.

In particular, steam engine merchant ships.

Although the destination of the merchant ships was the Ryukyu Kingdom, the Ming Dynasty set up lighthouses on the large and small islands in the sea, and left behind the island guards, and the ships confirmed the route through the lighthouses on each island, and they could also use the islands to escape the wind and waves in extreme weather.

The merchant ships traded with the local islanders on Kume Island, then set off along the archipelago and stayed at Watanaki Island for another day to wait for the islands before arriving at Quy Nhon Castle.

Li Xian said goodbye to the caravan.

The caravan will stay in Quy Nhon Castle for five days, and after five days, it will go to Nago, Onna Castle, enter the coast of the Zhongshan Kingdom, and after sailing around the island, it will also purchase some local souvenirs from the locality.

Some of the military supplies for Quy Nhon City were also transported by merchant ships, in the form of Kaizhong created by Emperor Taizu.

Li Xian and the accompanying officials brought documents and treasure books, as well as seals and other things, as well as certificates of the trading house, so the managers of Quy Nhon Port quickly sent someone to inform them.

"I'm sorry."

When Yang Wen learned the identity of the person who came, he immediately guessed that the imperial court had sent an envoy to resolve the local dispute, and hurriedly went to greet him in person, and after seeing the other party, he said enthusiastically.

"In the past, there were people who pretended to be court officials to make profits, so there was what happened just now."

Yang Wen explained.

Li Xian didn't care.

The two sides exchanged politeness and entered Quy Nhon City together.

Quy Nhon City is already the main residence of the local Han Chinese, and in addition to the garrison soldiers, there are also houses built by the garrison soldiers who moved their local families to live in the city, and the soldiers themselves paid for the construction of houses.

In addition to the local population, there were also service industries that were born, such as liquor shops where soldiers drank alcohol, tea houses, and so on. With a permanent population of more than 50,000 people, Quy Nhon City is the most populous city in the Shanbei Kingdom outside of the capital.

The architecture of the area has a lot of local characteristics.

Women are weaving bamboo baskets and other utensils, and pottery made of mud is drying outside the house.

The earthen houses are in the majority.

"The old king is dead?"

Li Xian was shocked.

Yang Wen said regretfully: "Although I took back the king of the Zhongshan Kingdom, my health has not been very good, and there is a lack of medicine in the local area, so I died of illness last month." ”

Li Xian groaned.

He couldn't tell if it was really due to illness or something else.

"The old man assured that he did die of illness."

Yang Wen guessed the other party's thoughts and said seriously.

"What does Yang Zongbing think next, how to treat the Zhongshan Kingdom, the new king, and whether the imperial court should give it recognition?"

Li Xian asked tentatively.

"Shang Zhong is not small in ambition, and does not meet the expectations of the imperial court, the old king is dead, but his child is still there, and he is in Quy Nhon City, and he is only thirteen years old."

Yang Wen said vaguely.

Hearing this, Li Xian had no doubts.

The imperial court also thinks so.

First of all, the king of the Zhongshan Kingdom was canonized by the Ming Dynasty, and it is impossible to change the place and put the imperial court, and it is impossible to support Shang Zhong's rebellion and snatching the throne.

Because these people who rely on their own strength to make trouble in the upper position are bound to be stronger than the former, and it is not in the interests of the Ming Dynasty.

Secondly.

Everyone will learn from the same, which will cause the Ming Dynasty's external checks and balances to lose their effect.

"So Quy Nhon is a prince who supports the former king?"

Li Xian asked.

"Everything is subject to the arrangements of the imperial court."

Yang Wen did not answer directly, but said so.

Looked at.

Li Xian is no longer tempting.

Soon.

Quy Nhon City began to contact the forces in the Zhongshan Kingdom, especially the Chinese family, and held many discussions.

"It's in our best interest."

The Weng family discussed within the family, and most of them agreed with the opinions of the country.

The corners of Weng Shengguang's mouth moved, but for the sake of the family, he didn't stop it in the end, giving up his good friend Shang Zhong, who grew up together, and didn't even inform him, and no rumors spread at all.

As for the Zheng family, they had no objection to the court's request.

When Shang Zhong felt that something was wrong, the families had already reached an agreement with Quy Nhon City.

The fleet of Quy Nhon City suddenly arrived at Yizu City, which was controlled by the Zheng family, and was only separated from the capital of the Zhongshan Kingdom by Urathien City, and when Shang Zhong learned the news, he only had the guards of the capital in his hands.

Weng Shengguang came to the palace.

"You betrayed me."

Shang Zhong said angrily.

Weng Shengguang was speechless, and after being silent for a moment, he raised his head and said: "The King of Zhongshan supports the old king at home and abroad, and in the eyes of the people, you are the thief of the Cholera Kingdom. ”

Reversing black and white like this, Shang Zhong couldn't wait to draw his sword.

"This is the success or defeat of the king, and if the king is defeated, it will naturally be the king."

"That's right."

Weng Shengguang looked at Shang Zhong with pity.

Under the national strength of the Ming Dynasty, the Zhongshan Kingdom is really unable to compete.

Good friends are not mediocre people.

But no matter how talented a good friend is, even Goryeo can only be obediently controlled by the Ming Dynasty, not to mention the small Zhongshan Kingdom, although the Zhongshan Kingdom is far away from the Ming Dynasty and is far overseas.

"If there is the slightest possibility, I will definitely support you, but the Weng family can't be buried with you, and you have no chance of winning."

Weng Shengguang informed the current situation one by one.

After Shang Zhong heard this, he immediately burst out laughing.

"You just want this king to surrender, let you reap the greatest merit, and turn back to your court to ask for credit."

Shang Zhong scoffed.

Weng Shengguang had no accidents.

With the wisdom of his friend, how could he not figure it out, Weng Shengguang looked at Shang Zhong calmly, with the intelligence of his friend, he should know his own hardships, this is the general trend.

"I know what to do."

Shang Zhong saw Weng Shengguang's appearance, all his anger vanished, and he waved his hand weakly.

He was furious.

The affairs of the Zhongshan Kingdom are their own domestic affairs, so why should the Ming Dynasty interfere.

But he didn't bother to argue.

What's the use of verbal arguments?

Not a day.

Shang Chung handed over Shuri Castle.

It's just that what people didn't expect was that the Ming Dynasty did not severely punish Shang Zhong, but let Shang Zhong return to his original station, support the son of the former king to ascend to the throne, and designated the Zheng family as the third official of the Zhongshan Kingdom.

At all costs.

The children of the craftsmen of the Zhongshan Kingdom held the main power in the country, that is, the new family valve.

The Zhongshan Kingdom, the most powerful of the three Ryukyu Kingdoms, was split and completely became a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, while the Shanbei Kingdom, which had the most northern territories and islands, was more submissive, and the Shannan Kingdom, which was the least powerful in the south, was more easily controlled by the Ming Dynasty.

In addition to the children of local Chinese families, there are also children of local indigenous families, who have started the practice of going to the capital of Daming to study.

Historically, due to the invasion of the Satsuma Domain, the Ryukyu forces retreated to the southern Yaeyama Islands, making important contributions to the development of the local archipelago.

Yang Wen returned to China.

The first batch of naval soldiers were retired, and more than 200 soldiers in Quy Nhon chose to stay in the local area and start a new life.

The Ming navy expanded by 150,000.

Each of the three Ryukyus countries established a base.

Including Dayuan Mansion and Qiongzhou Mansion.

One overseas base after another, through the development of soldiers, promoted local productivity, and one settlement after another was built, forming new shipping routes.

(End of chapter)